Fissure Sealants

If you have grooves or pits on the surfaces of your teeth, these can trap food particles and encourage plaque. Fissure sealants cover up these grooves, strengthening your teeth against decay and making them easier to clean.

What is a fissure sealant?

Fissure sealants are a type of preventative dentistry, as they make your teeth less prone to decay and make it less likely that you’ll need corrective treatments such as root canals or extractions in the future.

Sealants are most commonly used to smooth out grooves on the back molar and premolar teeth, but they can also be used to cover up pits on the front teeth.

Why do I need fissure sealants?

Fissure sealants are suitable for patients of all ages, but they can be especially useful for children who already have their permanent teeth and are at higher risk of tooth decay.

We also recommend fissure sealants if you have a health condition or family history that increases your risk of oral health problems.

How are teeth sealed?

If we decide that you or your child could benefit from fissure sealants, we’ll explain what the procedure involves during your consultation. We’ll also take images of your teeth to help us plan the most effective treatment.

Before the procedure, we’ll first clean and scale your teeth to remove any plaque, then roughen the surface of the teeth that need to be sealed. This makes it easier for the sealant to bond with the tooth enamel.

Fissure sealants are made of resin, which is carefully applied to the tooth surface by your dentist and hardened by a special light. It only takes a few minutes for your dentist to seal each tooth, so the treatment can usually be completed in a single visit.

After your teeth have been sealed, you should follow your dentist’s advice about what food to avoid and looking after your oral hygiene. We’ll check that your teeth are still sealed and protected during your regular check-ups.

Call our friendly front desk to book an appointment today.